Where photographers "breathe life" into memories

Photographers silently capture the most beautiful moments for tourists

The profession of fate

In the area of the Lady Temple, it is not difficult to see the image of photographers with familiar cameras on their shoulders, their eyes always following the bustling crowd. For many people, this is not only a job to earn a living, but also a fate attached to the "sacred land". Mr. Vo Tiep Khac, a photographer over 40 years old with tanned skin, shared: "This profession has followed me since I was young, until now it has been more than 20 years. Back then, cameras were rare, each photo was an event. Now with modern technology, everyone has a smartphone, but the profession of photography is still "viable", because not everyone has a good perspective, or knows how to capture the moment".

Indeed, to have a beautiful photo at the Lady Temple, the photographer not only needs shooting skills, but also needs to understand the terrain, light and, more importantly, grasp the psychology of tourists. They know where is the best angle to capture the whole view of the Temple, where is the ideal position to take a photo with the majestic mountains behind, or how to capture the bright smile of a family praying.

Happy, sad with the job

The street photography profession is not always a bed of roses. On sunny days, they have to expose themselves to the intense heat of the West. On rainy days, their work is also significantly affected. Income is unstable, depending on the number of customers and the “generosity” of each person.

At Mieu Ba, the team of 19 photography teams, each team of 9 people, is always working hard to capture memorable moments for visitors. Mr. Khac shared that on weekdays, there are 2 teams taking turns on duty, but on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays when there are many visitors, 3 teams will work together in one shift for the whole day. Their income is quite flexible. On days with few visitors, Mr. Khac earns a few hundred thousand VND, but when there are many visitors, it can be up to 1 million VND per day. The brothers in a team usually have about 2 days on duty per week.

According to Mr. Khac, thanks to the use of modern digital cameras, taking and developing photos has become much faster and more beautiful. Customers now only need to wait about 10 minutes to get their photos, instead of having to wait nearly 1 - 2 hours like before. Mr. Phan Van Son (62 years old, living in Chau Doc ward), who has been working as a photographer at Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam mountain for more than 30 years, said: "Workers must constantly improve their skills and learn photography techniques to attract customers."

With a large number of photographers, registering for the “Sam Mountain Photography Team” has contributed to better management and ensured discipline. However, the photographers here always maintain the principle of supporting and not competing with each other. Mr. Son confided: “Sticking with this profession, which is like “serving a hundred families”, we understand that it is not easy to make a living with this profession, so we have to rely on each other”. Currently, the number of customers needing photographers has decreased significantly compared to before, affecting their income. To maintain their lives, many people have to do other jobs such as construction workers, motorbike taxi drivers or freelance photographers at other tourist destinations.

More than a photo

What makes tourists still seek out photographers in the digital age? The answer lies in the emotional value and professionalism they bring. Not only taking pictures, photographers here also act as "reluctant tour guides". They are willing to show the way, introduce the unique features of the relic site, or share interesting stories about the Temple of the Lady of the Land on Sam Mountain. It is this enthusiasm and sincerity that creates a unique feature, contributing to the hospitality of this land.

There are customers who are very easy-going and satisfied right from the first photo shoot. However, there are also many cases where customers, after receiving the photos, complain about every little detail and even do not want to pay. In such situations, the photographers always maintain a friendly attitude and communicate gently and affectionately. If the customer is not satisfied, they are willing to develop another photo for the customer or even refund the money. Each photo costs from 60,000 to 120,000 VND, depending on the size.

Despite having a “fancy” phone, many tourists still choose to find professional photographers. Ms. Vui (from Vinh Long province) happily said: “I found a photographer first because I am not good at taking pictures, then to save the best photos, and also to support the photographers here. Everyone is very attentive, accommodating to customers, and the prices are also reasonable.” This shows that, despite the development of technology, the photographers at Ba Chua Xu Temple in Sam Mountain still maintain their position with dedication, skills and a spirit of mutual support, contributing to creating beautiful memories for tourists from all over.

Each photograph is not only a moment captured, but also contains life stories. It can be the joy of a family just completing a pilgrimage, the solemnity of a child praying for his parents, or the happy eyes of a couple marking their love...

PHUONG LAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/noi-tho-anh-thoi-hon-vao-ky-uc-a424078.html